The struggle for survival of people living below the poverty line is no less than a war. According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, in 2024 alone, 3% of the population lost their lives battling poverty. Around 60% of the population continues to suffer from the lack of basic necessities. For rural communities, the urban sprawl and toxic development encroach like a slow curse, silently suffocating their lives.
Rafique Azam was once a proud farmer, a name whispered with warmth across his village. The scent of his golden paddy harvest would perfume the entire neighborhood. Seated on the edge of the paddy fields, Rafique would often dream of a better future. His eyes gleamed with hope and satisfaction as he smiled beside his sea of green. When his wife brought him lunch in the fields, he would say with pride, “Bouri, this time the harvest will be abundant.” He never owned land himself, but he cultivated as a sharecropper. Honest, hardworking, and trustworthy, Rafique was a beloved figure in his village.
But that life no longer exists.
Industrial Expansion and Environmental Neglect Ruined a Farmer’s Only Source of Livelihood
Today, Rafique Azam has no land to cultivate. A massive industrial complex has taken root near his former fields. Its untreated, toxic waste seeps into the soil and poisons the water, making farming impossible. Despite multiple complaints, no resolution was offered. No voice heard his cries; no authority stepped in.
Rafique soon realized a harsh truth: in this system, being a farmer brings neither respect nor justice. Industrialists silenced officials with bribes, and when Rafique sought to speak up, he was insulted and thrown out. The humiliation cut deeper than any poverty he had ever known.
With his dignity bruised and his dreams shattered, Rafique left farming—not out of choice, but out of despair. To him, it felt like being a farmer had become a sin in this society. He withdrew from his community, choosing a life of silence over the endless battle for recognition and survival.
As Family Drifts Away, Rafique Battles Poverty and Pain Alone
Years passed. Rafique Azam aged—not just in years, but in loneliness. His body grew weak under the weight of time. After suffering a stroke, his beloved wife passed away. His three children, each caught in their own struggles, no longer live with him. His only companion is his own isolation.
But Rafique's dignity never faded. Even as hunger gnawed at his body and solitude haunted his soul, he held onto his self-respect. He never begged. He never lashed out. He remained silent—a silent testament to the forgotten farmers of Bangladesh.
Recognizing his silent suffering, the Save Earth Society has stepped in with modest financial support. Though the help is small, it is heartfelt. Our mission is not charity, but solidarity. We do not see Rafique as a recipient of aid but as a symbol of an entire generation that fed this nation and was later cast aside.
We stand quietly by his side—not to speak for him, but to amplify the voice he no longer has the strength to raise.
Beyond One Man: The Larger Crisis of Rural Bangladesh
Rafique Azam’s story is not just his own—it is the story of thousands of farmers in Bangladesh who are being pushed to the margins in the name of development. As industrial complexes continue to expand into rural spaces, traditional livelihoods like agriculture are becoming obsolete. Once celebrated for feeding the nation, farmers now find themselves facing pollution, neglect, and disrespect.
The case of Rafique shows how industrial progress without environmental accountability leads to irreversible human loss. It is not just the soil that turns infertile—it is entire lives that become barren. In pushing away people like Rafique from their lands, we are also pushing away our roots.
Your Small Contribution Can Make a Big Difference
We believe in building a society that honors its farmers, respects its environment, and protects its vulnerable. Your small contribution can help turn Rafique Azam’s life around—not through charity, but through dignity and justice.
Let this not be just another sad story. Let it be a call to action.
Let’s build a society where no farmer has to abandon his field in shame.
Let’s ensure that no one like Rafique Azam suffers in silence again.
Let’s dream of a future where progress does not come at the cost of humanity.
💚 Will you join us in building a just and inclusive society?
Stand with Rafique Azam. Stand with justice.